Fundraisers in Barnstaple have saddled up for a galloping good night of horse racing in support of North Devon cancer patients.
A charity Race Night at Queen Anne’s Café on The Strand raised nearly £2,500 for the Fern Centre, the cancer wellbeing centre at North Devon District Hospital.
The sold-out event was organised by friends Steve Warner and Lionel Murphy, with support from their partners Lucy and Kate and a host of local businesses.
Steve is living with cancer and has been supported by the Fern Centre, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary later this month after opening in 2020 following a £1.5m fundraising appeal by Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (then known as Over and Above).
“The Fern Centre has been an incredible support,” said Steve, who is managing his illness with medication following separate diagnoses in 2019 and 2024.
“Like a lot of people, I thought I could cope with cancer, that I could fight it on my own, but sometimes you just don’t realise the impact it can have on you as an individual.
“Going through the process of tests and waiting for results can be a horrible experience, so to have somewhere to go, perhaps before or after an appointment, where you can just sit in peace and have a coffee with people who understand and care, has been a real help.
“Reflexology at the Fern Centre has also been superb, as has the counselling service, which has really highlighted how I’ve suffered internally, but perhaps not shown it externally.
It’s been very special to be able to give something back and help raise awareness of this fantastic resource.
– Steve Warner
“We couldn’t have done it without such fantastic support from local businesses, including Queen Anne’s Café, Savona Foodservice, East and West Bakery and HSBC in Barnstaple, which has donated £500 in matched funding and also gave us the support of some of their staff on the night.
“Thank you also to all the people who came to the event for their wonderful generosity and helping us to raise such an amazing amount of money,” added Steve, from Appledore.
Fern Centre manager Tara Jones said: “We are so grateful to Steve and Lionel for putting on such a fabulous fundraiser for the centre, and to everyone who contributed to such a fun evening.
“On July 28, we’re proud to be celebrating five years of offering holistic wellbeing support to anyone in North Devon affected by cancer and have only been able to do this thanks to such brilliant backing from the local community.
“The Fern Centre’s £200,000-a-year running costs continue to be funded by Royal Devon Hospitals Charity and every pound raised really does make such a big difference to so many people in some of the toughest of times.”
5 year anniversary celebration
The Fern Centre is holding a special 5th anniversary celebration cream tea on July 28 from 10am to 4pm. Read more here.
